Is your dog coughing? Mysterious respiratory illness is spreading. How to protect a pet

Michelle Marchante
·3 min read

More than 200 dogs in the United States reportedly were sick this year from a mysterious respiratory illness that can sometimes develop into pneumonia and has shown resistance to antibiotics.

While there have been no reported cases in South Florida, Miami-Dade County Animal Services issued an advisory this week urging dog owners to take precautions.

Here’s what to know:

Does Florida have any reported cases of the mysterious illness in dogs?

On Tuesday, Miami-Dade County Animal Services confirmed that there haven’t been any reported cases in Florida of the mysterious illness. Miami-Dade County Animal Services and Broward County Animal Care said there weren’t any confirmed cases in South Florida.

So far, the Oregon Department of Agriculture has received more than 200 reports of the “atypical canine infectious respiratory illness” since August, according to the Oregon Veterinary Medical Association. Colorado, New Hampshire and Illinois have also reported cases, according to CNN. In some rare cases, dogs died shortly after falling seriously ill, according to the United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, which is working with several states and laboratories to identify the illness.

The Oregon Department of Agriculture is working with state researchers and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory to find out what is causing the illness. Veterinary laboratories in Oregon, Colorado, New Hampshire and other states are also investigating the illness.

Symptoms of mysterious respiratory illness in dogs?

Symptoms include coughing, sneezing nasal or eye discharge, and lethargy, although the illness can sometimes worsen into pneumonia. The initial symptoms caused by the mysterious illness are similar to the disease known as “kennel cough” or “canine cough.”

The first symptom that usually appears is sneezing, then a wet cough, according to Animal Services.

“If untreated, or if the pet has other underlying conditions, it can develop into pneumonia,” Miami-Dade County Animal Services told the Miami Herald in an email. If your pet falls ill, call your vet.

A dog owner opts to bathe her dog at home in the bathroom sink to avoid bringing her to a groomer. The dog owner made the decision following Miami-Dade Animal Services recommendations to avoid places like dog parks, groomers and boarding businesses to reduce the risk of exposure to a mysterious respiratory illness that has made dogs sick in other parts of the country.

How to reduce your dog’s risk of getting ill

Miami-Dade County Animal Services recommends limiting your dog’s interactions with other dogs. Animal Services is recommending dog owners avoid taking their pets to dog parks, groomers and boarding places to reduce their risk of exposure. You should also keep your distance from other dogs on walks.

And most importantly, make sure your dog’s vaccinations are up to date.

“While there are no reported cases in our region, we advise dog owners to remain vigilant and take necessary precaution to ensure their pet’s well-being” Miami-Dade County Animal Services Director Annette Jose said in a statement. “Keeping dogs up to date on vaccinations, including those protecting against respiratory illness, is crucial.”

Can the illness make cats, other pets sick too? What about humans?

At the moment, there’s no indication that this illness can affect cats and other pets or humans, according to Animal Services.

The United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service said officials are still working to identify the cause of the illness. It also has not received any reports of human illness.